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Tenth Day
-
Novel VII

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
001
]
King Pedro, being apprised of the fervent love borne him
by Lisa, who thereof is sick, comforts her, and forthwith
gives her in marriage to a young gentleman, and
having kissed her on the brow, ever after professes
himself her knight.

[Voice:
author
]

[
002
]
When Fiammetta was come to the end of her story, and
not a little praise had been accorded to the virile magnificence
of King Charles, albeit one there was of the ladies, who, being a
Ghibelline, joined not therein, Pampinea, having received the king's
command, thus began:

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
003
]
None is there of discernment, worshipful
my ladies, that would say otherwise than you have said touching
good King Charles, unless for some other cause she bear him a
grudge; however, for that there comes to my mind the, perchance
no less honourable, entreatment of one of our Florentine girls by one
of his adversaries, I am minded to recount the same to you.

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
004
]
What time the French were driven forth of Sicily there dwelt
at Palermo one of our Florentines, that was an apothecary, Bernardo
Puccini by name, a man of great wealth, that by his lady had an
only and exceeding fair daughter, then of marriageable age. [
005
]
Now
King Pedro of Arragon, being instated in the sovereignty of the
island, did at Palermo make with his barons marvellous celebration
thereof; during which, as he tilted after the Catalan fashion, it
befell that Bernardo's daughter, Lisa by name, being with other
ladies at a window, did thence espy him in the course, whereat being
prodigiously delighted, she regarded him again and again, and grew
fervently enamoured of him; [
006
]
nor yet, when the festivities were
ended, and she was at home with her father, was there aught she
could think of but this her exalted and aspiring love. In regard
whereof that which most irked her was her sense of her low rank,
which scarce permitted her any hope of a happy issue; but, for all
that, give over her love for the King she would not; nor yet, for
fear of worse to come, dared she discover it. [
007
]
The King, meanwhile,
recking, witting nothing of the matter, her suffering waxed immeasurable,
intolerable; [
008
]
and her love ever growing with ever fresh
accessions of melancholy, the fair maiden, overborne at last, fell sick,
and visibly day by day wasted like snow in sunlight. [
009
]
Distraught
with grief thereat, her father and mother afforded her such succour
as they might with words of good cheer, and counsel of physicians,
and physic; but all to no purpose; for that she in despair of her
love was resolved no more to live.

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
010
]
Now her father assuring her that there was no whim of hers but
should be gratified, the fancy took her that, if she might find apt
means, she would, before she died, make her love and her resolve
known to the King: wherefore one day she besought her father to
cause Minuccio d'Arezzo to come to her; [
011
]
which Minuccio was a
singer and musician of those days, reputed most skilful, and well seen
of King Pedro. Bernardo, deeming that Lisa desired but to hear
him play and sing a while, conveyed her message to him; and he,
being an agreeable fellow, came to her forthwith, and after giving her
some words of loving cheer, sweetly discoursed some airs upon his
viol, and then sang her some songs; whereby, while he thought to
comfort her, he did but add fire and flame to her love. [
012
]
Presently
the girl said that she would fain say a few words to him in private,
and when all else were withdrawn from the chamber:
“
Minuccio,
”
quoth she,
“
thee have I chosen, deeming thee most trusty, to be the
keeper of my secret, relying upon thee in the first place never to
betray it to a soul, and next to lend me in regard thereof such aid as
thou mayst be able; and so I pray thee to do. [
013
]
Thou must know,
then, Minuccio mine, that on the day when our lord King Pedro
held the great festival in celebration of his triumph, I, seeing him
tilt, was so smitten with love of him that thereof was kindled within
my soul the fire which has brought me, as thou seest, to this pass;
and knowing how ill it beseems me to love a king, and being unable,
I say not to banish it from my heart, but so much as to bring it
within bounds, and finding it exceeding grievous to bear, I have
made choice of death as the lesser pain; and die I shall. [
014
]
But should
he wot not of my love before I die, sore disconsolate should I depart;
and knowing not by whom more aptly than by thee I might give
him to know this my frame, I am minded to entrust the communication
thereof to thee; which office I entreat thee not to refuse, and
having discharged it, to let me know, that dying thus consoled, I may
depart this pain.
”
Which said, she silently wept.

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
015
]
Marvelling at the loftiness of the girl's spirit and her desperate
determination, Minuccio commiserated her not a little; and presently
it occurred to him that there was a way in which he might honourably
serve her: wherefore: [
016
]
“
Lisa,
”
quoth he,
“
my faith I plight
thee, wherein thou mayst place sure confidence that I shall never
play thee false, and lauding thy high emprise, to wit, the setting thine
affections upon so great a king, I proffer thee mine aid, whereby,
so thou wilt be of good cheer, I hope, and believe, that, before thou
shalt see the third day from now go by, I shall have brought thee
tidings which will be to thee for an exceeding great joy; and, not
to lose time, I will set to work at once.
”
[
017
]
And so Lisa, assuring
him that she would be of good cheer, and plying him afresh with
instant obsecrations, bade him Godspeed; [
018
]
and Minuccio, having
taken leave of her, hied him to one Mico da Siena, a very expert
rhymester of those days, who at his instant request made the ensuing
song:

[Voice:
]

[
019
]
Hence hie thee, Love; and hasting to my King,Give him to know what torment dire I bear,How that to death I fare,Still close, for fear, my passion harbouring.

[
020
]
Lo, Love, to thee with claspèd hands I turn,And pray thee seek him where he tarrieth,And tell him how I oft for him do yearn,So sweetly he my heart enamoureth;And of the fire, wherewith I throughly burn,I think to die, but may the hour uneathSay, when my grievous pain shall with my breathSurcease; till when, neither may fear nor shameThe least abate the flame.Ah! to his ears my woeful story bring.

[
021
]
Since of him I was first enamourèd,Never hast thou, O Love, my fearful heartWith any such fond hope encouragèd,As e'er its message to him to impart,To him, my lord, that me so sore bestedHolds: dying thus, 'twere grievous to depart:Perchance, were he to know my cruel smart,'Twould not displease him; might I but make boldMy soul to him to unfold,And shew him all my woeful languishing.

[
022
]
Love, since 'twas not thy will me to accordSuch boldness as that e'er unto my KingI may discover my sad heart's full hoard,Or any word or sign thereof him bring:This all my prayer to thee, O sweet my Lord:Hie thee to him, and so him whisperingMind of the day I saw him tourneyingWith all his paladins environèd,And grew enamourèdEv'n to my very heart's disrupturing.

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
023
]
Which words Minuccio forthwith set to music after a soft and
plaintive fashion befitting their sense; and on the third day thereafter
hied him to court, while King Pedro was yet at breakfast.
And being bidden by the King to sing something to the accompaniment
of his viol, [
024
]
he gave them this song with such sweet concord of
words and music that all the folk that were in the King's hall seemed,
as it were, entranced, so intent and absorbed stood they to listen,
and the King rather more than the rest. [
025
]
And when Minuccio had
done singing, the King asked whence the song came, that, as far as
he knew, he had never heard it before. [
026
]
“
Sire,
”
replied Minuccio,
“
'tis not yet three days since 'twas made, words and music alike.
”
And being asked by the King in regard of whom 'twas made:
“
I dare not,
”
quoth he,
“
discover such a secret save to you
alone.
”
[
027
]
Bent on hearing the story, the King, when the tables were cleared,
took Minuccio into his privy chamber; and there Minuccio told
him everything exactly as he had heard it from Lisa's lips. Whereby
the King was much gratified, and lauded the maiden not a little, and
said that a girl of such high spirit merited considerate treatment, and
bade Minuccio be his envoy to her, and comfort her, and tell her
that without fail that very day at vespers he would come to visit her.
[
028
]
Overjoyed to bear the girl such gladsome tidings, Minuccio tarried
not, but hied him back to the girl with his viol, and being closeted
with her, told her all that had passed, and then sang the song to the
accompaniment of his viol. [
029
]
Whereby the girl was so cheered and
delighted that forthwith there appeared most marked and manifest
signs of the amendment of her health, while with passionate longing
(albeit none in the house knew or divined it) she awaited the vesper
hour, when she was to see her lord.

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
030
]
Knowing the girl very well, and how fair she was, and pondering
divers times on what Minuccio had told him, the King, being a prince
of a liberal and kindly disposition, grew ever more compassionate.
So, about vespers, he mounted his horse, and rode forth, as if for
mere pleasure, and being come to the apothecary's house, demanded
access to a very goodly garden that the apothecary had, and having
dismounted, after a while enquired of Bernardo touching his
daughter, and whether he had yet bestowed her in marriage. [
031
]
“
Sire,
”
replied Bernardo,
“
she is not yet married; and indeed she has been
and still is very ill: howbeit since none she is wonderfully amended.
”
[
032
]
The significance of which amendment being forthwith apprehended
by the King:
“
In good faith,
”
quoth he,
“
'twere a pity so fair
a creature were reft from the world so early; we would go in and
visit her.
”
[
033
]
And presently, attended only by two of his lords and
Bernardo, he betook him to her chamber, where being entered,
he drew nigh the bed, whereon the girl half reclined, half sate in
eager expectation of his coming; and taking her by the hand:
“
Madonna,
”
quoth he,
“
what means this? A maiden like you
should be the comfort of others, and you suffer yourself to languish.
We would entreat you that for love of us you be of good cheer, so
as speedily to recover your health.
”
[
034
]
To feel the touch of his hand
whom she loved above all else, the girl, albeit somewhat shamefast,
was so enraptured that 'twas as if she was in Paradise; and as soon
as she was able:
“
My lord,
”
she said,
“
'twas the endeavour, weak
as I am, to sustain a most grievous burden that brought this sickness
upon me; but 'twill not be long ere you will see me quit thereof,
thanks to your courtesy.
”
[
035
]
The hidden meaning of which words
was apprehended only by the King, who momently made more
account of the girl, and again and again inly cursed Fortune, that had
decreed that she should be the daughter of such a man. And yet a
while he tarried with her, and comforted her, and so took his leave.
[
036
]
Which gracious behaviour of the King was not a little commended,
and accounted a signal honour to the apothecary and his daughter.

[Voice:
pampinea
]

The girl, glad at heart as was ever lady of her lover, mended
with reviving hope, and in a few days recovered her health, and
therewith more than all her wonted beauty. [
037
]
Whereupon the King,
having taken counsel with the Queen how to reward so great a love,
got him one day to horse with a great company of his barons, and
hied him to the apothecary's house; and being come into the garden,
he sent for the apothecary and his daughter; and there, being joined
by the Queen with not a few ladies, who received the girl into their
company, they made such cheer as 'twas a wonder to see. [
038
]
And
after a while the King and Queen having called Lisa to them, quoth
the King:
“
Honourable damsel, by the great love that you have
borne us we are moved greatly to honour you; and we trust that,
for love of us, the honour that we design for you will be acceptable
to you. Now 'tis thus we would honour you: to wit, that, seeing
that you are of marriageable age, we would have you take for
husband him that we shall give you; albeit 'tis none the less our
purpose ever to call ourself your knight, demanding no other tribute
of all your love but one sole kiss.
”
[
039
]
Scarlet from brow to neck,
the girl, making the King's pleasure her own, thus with a low
voice replied:
“
My lord, very sure am I that, should it come to
be known that I was grown enamoured of you, most folk would hold
me for a fool, deeming, perchance, that I was out of my mind, and
witless alike of my own rank and yours; [
040
]
but God, who alone reads
the hearts of us mortals, knows that even then, when first I did
affect you, I wist that you were the King, and I but the daughter of
Bernardo the apothecary, and that to suffer my passion to soar so
high did ill become me; [
041
]
but, as you know far better than I, none
loves of set and discreet purpose, but only according to the dictates
of impulse and fancy; which law my forces, albeit not seldom
opposed, being powerless to withstand, I loved and still love and
shall ever love you. [
042
]
But as no sooner knew I myself subjugated to
your love, than I vowed to have ever no will but yours; therefore not
only am I compliant to take right gladly him whom you shall be
pleased to give me for husband, thereby conferring upon me great
honour and dignity; but if you should bid me tarry in the fire,
delighted were I to obey, so thereby I might pleasure you. [
043
]
How
far it beseems me to have you, my King, for my knight, you best
know; and therefore I say nought thereof; nor will the kiss which
you crave as your sole tribute of my love be granted you save by
leave of my Lady the Queen. [
044
]
Natheless, may you have of this
great graciousness that you and my Lady the Queen have shewn
me, and which I may not requite, abundant recompense in the blessing
and favour of God;
”
and so she was silent.

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
045
]
The Queen was mightily delighted with the girl's answer, and
deemed her as discreet as the King had said. The King then sent
for the girl's father and mother, and being assured that his intention
had their approval, summoned to his presence a young man, Perdicone
by name, that was of gentle birth, but in poor circumstances, and
put certain rings into his hand, and (he nowise gainsaying) wedded
him to Lisa. [
046
]
Which done, besides jewels many and precious that
he and the Queen gave the girl, he forthwith bestowed upon Perdicone
two domains, right goodly and of ample revenues, to wit,
Ceffalù and Calatabellotta, saying:
“
We give them to thee for thy
wife's dowry; what we have in store for thee thou wilt learn hereafter.
”
Which said, he turned to the girl, and: [
047
]
“
Now,
”
quoth
he,
“
we are minded to cull that fruit which is due to us of thy
love;
”
and so, taking her head between both his hands, he kissed her
brow. [
048
]
Wherefore, great was the joy of Perdicone, and the father
and mother of Lisa, and Lisa herself, and mighty the cheer they
made, and gaily did they celebrate the nuptials. And, as many
affirm, right well did the King keep his promise to the girl; for that
ever, while he lived, he called himself her knight, nor went to any
passage of arms bearing other device than that which he had
from her.

[Voice:
pampinea
]

[
049
]
Now 'tis by doing after this sort that sovereigns win the hearts
of their subjects, give others occasion of well-doing, and gain for
themselves an imperishable renown. At which mark few or none in
our times have bent the bow of their understanding, the more part
of the princes having become but cruel tyrants.